Previous Stoicism

CULTIVATING INDIFFERENCE WHERE OTHERS GROW PASSION

“Of all the things that are, some are good, others bad, and yet others indifferent. The good are virtues and all that share in them; bad are the vices and all that indulge them; the indifferent lie in between virtue and vice and include wealth, health, life, death, pleasure, and pain.”

- EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES

Summary:

Epictetus categorises all things into three groups: good (virtues like wisdom and justice), bad (vices like greed and cruelty), and indifferent (external circumstances such as wealth, health, pleasure, or pain). He emphasizes that true value lies only in virtue, while everything else is neutral—neither inherently good nor bad. The key to inner peace is cultivating indifference toward things outside our control and focusing only on developing our character.

Interpretation:

In real life, this means that we should not get overly attached to external conditions, whether positive or negative. For example, while good health and financial success are preferable, they do not define our worth or happiness. Likewise, setbacks like illness or financial hardship are not inherently bad—only how we respond to them determines their impact. By shifting our focus from external circumstances to our internal virtues, we free ourselves from unnecessary suffering and cultivate resilience, no matter what life brings.

 

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